Purpose
To provide guidelines for consideration when dealing with the media in relation to critical incidents.
Policy
Positive interaction with the media is important for the organisation. It is imperative however that those media enquiries are handled by the appropriate lifesaving personnel.
Generally critical incidents are defined by Surf Life Saving as either (or a combination) of the following:
- Incident resulting in death (including unsuccessful CPR, body recovery);
- Incident resulting in serious/major injury (shark attack/propeller strike);
- Incident whereby a member of SLS is seriously injured (requiring hospitalisation);
- Incident whereby a member of the public is injured by lifesaving personnel/equipment (requiring external medical treatment or hospitalisation).
Procedure
Critical Incident Media – Procedure
- For any ‘critical incident’ the SLSNSW General Manager, Communications and Partnerships (or State Operations Centre) shall be notified as soon as practicable.
- Lifesaving personnel may disregard any media enquiries during the response phase of an incident.
- The senior lifesaving member involved (Patrol Captain/Lifeguard Supervisor/Duty Officer) shall assume the role of media contact until advised otherwise. This person shall direct media enquiries to the SLSNSW General Manager, Communications and Partnerships.
- The senior lifesaving personnel shall restrict media comment by any other lifesaving personnel.
- The SLSNSW General Manager, Communications and Partnerships shall establish the facts, communicate with key personnel involved (including the Branch DOL) and establish a media plan.
- The media plan may involve the identification and briefing of an appropriate local (club/branch) spokesperson or may delegate the role to the SLSNSW General Manager, Public Safety and Emergency Management (or other State Officer).
General Media Enquiries (non-critical)
General media enquiries (e.g. hours of operation, surf conditions, patrol activity, etc.) should be treated as a positive opportunity to represent/promote the organisation.
The Patrol Captain/Lifeguard Supervisor may deal with this directly or refer the media to the Club Captain, Club President, Branch DOL, Branch President or Lifeguard Supervisor.
Note: If the enquiry is more serious or potentially negative, the matter should be referred to the Branch DOL, Branch President or SLSNSW General Manager, Communications and Partnerships.
Presentation/Public Image
Members should ensure that they are presenting themselves in correct, full uniform at all times if staging photos or doing video interviews for the media.
Equipment and patrol setup should always be as per SOPs.
Do not be influenced to stage a photo or video which is against SOPs or might bring the organisation into disrepute.
Rules of Thumb
- If you are unsure as to whether or not you should answer a question or make a comment to the media, always refer it to the next level.
- Stick to the facts.
- this is what happened,
- this is what we did,
- this was the outcome,
- these are the key safety messages.
- Never engage in hearsay/rumour/innuendo.
- Never appoint blame.
- There is no such thing as ‘off the record.’
- You have control of what you say and how you look – don’t be ‘dictated to’ by reporters.
- If you can’t, don’t want to or don’t think you should answer a question – DON’T.
- State: “I am not the appropriate person to comment on that, please contact the SLSNSW Media Team”.
Reference
SLSNSW Media Kit
Duty Officer Media Check Sheet